Brussels, 14/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - Last weekend, politicians and experts from the eight main political groupings in Bosnia Herzegovina met in Brussels with European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn to discuss reform of the Bosnia Herzegovina Constitution established by the 1995 Dayton Accords. On Monday, Rehn welcomed the 'emerging consensus' on the issue and pointed out that the European Commission was prepared to facilitate negotiations but the final decision on revoking the Constitution would be made by the leaders and population of Bosnia Herzegovina. The Commission recommends 'constitutional evolution rather than a constitutional revolution,' said Rehn, noting that 'ten years after Dayton, it is time for Bosnia Herzegovina to move from peace building towards state building.' As the Commission pointed out in its 9 November report, 'it is necessary for the country to develop a functional multi-ethnic state to serve better its citizens and also to make progress towards European integration,' added Rehn. The Commissioner said 'Bosnia Herzegovina is not approaching a new phase of its relations with the European Union with the prospective start of negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement. We need a sound and solid partner which is able to take decisions during the negotiations and implement the Agreement later on.'
Vesting Skopje last Thursday, Olli Rehn briefed the parliament of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on the Commission's 9 November report in which the Commissions recommends that the Council grant Macedonia candidate country status (see EUROPE 9065). There has been great progress in economic and political reforms (rule of law, reforming the justice system, relative economic stability, legislative harmonisation, etc) but 'much remains to be done' to deal with shortcomings in law enforcement, tomcatting corruption, reforming the administration and establishing a functioning market economy, said Rehn. The Commissioner said the opening of the accession negotiations would only be possible once the country reaches 'a sufficient degree of compliance with the membership criteria.' The date the negotiations start will therefore hang on the speed with which FYROM corrects the shortcomings outlined in the Commission's report, warned Rehn.